Barack Obama Wins Democratic Primaries

[Elano]

Barack Obama clinched the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday, becoming the first black candidate to lead a major party into a campaign for the White House. Vanquished rival Hillary Rodham Clinton swiftly signaled an interest in joining the ticket as his running mate.

Obama arranged a victory celebration in St. Paul, Minn., at the site of this summer's Republican National Convention — an in-your-face gesture to Sen. John McCain, who will be his opponent in the race to become the nation's 44th president.

The 46-year-old Obama outlasted Clinton in a historic campaign that sparked record turnouts in primary after primary, yet exposed deep racial and gender divisions within the party.

In a campaign of surprises, Clinton's comments about joining the ticket rated high.

According to one participant in an afternoon conference call among Clinton and members of the New York congressional delegation, Rep. Lydia Velasquez said she believed the best way for Obama to win over Hispanics and members of other key voting blocs would be to take the former first lady as his running mate.

"I am open to it," Clinton replied, if it would help the party's prospects in November, said the participant, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the call was a private matter.

Obama sealed his victory based on primary elections, state Democratic caucuses and delegates' public declarations as well as support from 22 delegates and "superdelegates" who privately confirmed their intentions to The Associated Press. It takes 2,118 delegates to clinch the nomination.

Clinton stood ready to concede that her rival had amassed the delegates needed to triumph, according to officials in her campaign. They stressed that the New York senator did not intend to suspend or end her candidacy in a speech Tuesday night in New York. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they had not been authorized to divulge her plans.

Obama's triumph was fashioned on prodigious fundraising, meticulous organizing and his theme of change aimed at an electorate opposed to the Iraq war and worried about the economy — all harnessed to his own innate gifts as a campaigner.

With her husband's two-White House terms as a backdrop, Clinton campaigned for months as the candidate of experience, a former first lady and second-term senator ready, she said, to take over on Day One.

But after a year on the campaign trail, Obama won the kickoff Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3, and the freshman senator became something of an overnight political phenomenon.

"We came together as Democrats, as Republicans and independents, to stand up and say we are one nation, we are one people and our time for change has come," he said that night in Des Moines.

A video produced by Will I. Am and built around Obama's "Yes, we can" rallying cry quickly went viral. It drew its one millionth hit within a few days of being posted.

As the strongest female presidential candidate in history, Clinton drew large, enthusiastic audiences. Yet Obama's were bigger still. One audience, in Dallas, famously cheered when he blew his nose on stage; a crowd of 75,000 turned out in Portland, Ore., the weekend before the state's May 20 primary.

The former first lady countered Obama's Iowa victory with an upset five days later in New Hampshire that set the stage for a campaign marathon as competitive as any in the last generation.

"Over the last week I listened to you, and in the process I found my own voice," she told supporters who had saved her candidacy from an early demise.

In defeat, Obama's aides concluded they had committed a cardinal sin of New Hampshire politics, forsaking small, intimate events in favor of speeches to large audiences inviting them to ratify Iowa's choice.

It was not a mistake they made again — which helped explain Obama's later outings to bowling alleys, backyard basketball hoops and American Legion halls in the heartland.

Clinton conceded nothing, memorably knocking back a shot of Crown Royal whiskey at a bar in Indiana, recalling that her grandfather had taught her to use a shotgun, and driving in a pickup to a gas station in South Bend, Ind., to emphasize her support for a summertime suspension of the federal gasoline tax.

As other rivals quickly fell away in winter, the strongest black candidate in history and the strongest female White House contender traded victories on Super Tuesday, the Feb. 5 series of primaries and caucuses across 21 states and American Samoa that once seemed likely to settle the nomination.

But Clinton had a problem that Obama exploited, and he scored a coup she could not answer.

Pressed for cash, the former first lady ran noncompetitive campaigns in several Super Tuesday caucus states, allowing her rival to run up his delegate totals.

At the same time, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., endorsed the young senator in terms that summoned memories of his slain brothers while seeking to turn the page on the Clinton era.

In a reference that likened former President Clinton to Harry Truman: "There was another time, when another young candidate was running for president and challenging America to cross a new frontier. He faced criticism from the preceding Democratic president, who was widely respected in the party."

Merely by surviving Super Tuesday, Obama exceeded expectations.

But he did more than survive, emerging with a lead in delegates that he never relinquished, and proceeded to run off a string of 11 straight victories.

Clinton saved her candidacy once more with primary victories in Ohio and Texas on March 4, beginning a stretch in which she won primaries in six of the final nine states on the calendar, as well as in Puerto Rico.

It was a strong run, providing glimpses of what might have been for the one-time front-runner.

But by then Obama was well on his way to victory, Clinton and her allies stressed the popular vote instead of delegates. Yet he seemed to emerge from each loss with residual strength.

Obama's bigger-than-expected victory in North Carolina on May 6 offset his narrow defeat in Indiana the same day. Four days later, he overtook Clinton's lead among superdelegates, the party leaders she had hoped would award her the nomination on the basis of a strong showing in swing states.

Obama lost West Virginia by a whopping 67 percent to 26 percent on May 13. Yet he won an endorsement the following day from former presidential rival and one-time North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.

Clinton administered another drubbing in Kentucky a week later. This time, Obama countered with a victory in Oregon, and turned up that night in Iowa to say he had won a majority of all the delegates available in 56 primaries and caucuses on the calendar.

There were moments of anger, notably in a finger-wagging debate in South Carolina on Jan. 21.

Obama told the former first lady he was helping unemployed workers on the streets of Chicago when "you were a corporate lawyer sitting on the board at Wal-Mart."

Moments later, Clinton said that she was fighting against misguided Republican policies "when you were practicing law and representing your contributor ... in his slum landlord business in inner city Chicago."

And Bill Clinton was a constant presence and an occasional irritant for Obama. The former president angered several black politicians when he seemed to diminish Obama's South Carolina triumph by noting that Jesse Jackson had also won the state.

Obama's frustration showed at the Jan. 21 debate, when he accused the former president in absentia of uttering a series of distortions.

"I'm here. He's not," the former first lady snapped.

"Well, I can't tell who I'm running against sometimes," Obama countered.

There were relatively few policy differences. Clinton accused Obama of backing a health care plan that would leave millions out, and the two clashed repeatedly over trade.

Yet race, religion, region and gender became political fault lines as the two campaigned from coast to coast.

Along the way, Obama showed an ability to weather the inevitable controversies, most notably one caused by the incendiary rhetoric of his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

At first, Obama said he could not break with his longtime spiritual adviser. Then, when Wright spoke out anew, Obama reversed course and denounced him strongly.

Clinton struggled with self-inflicted wounds. Most prominently, she claimed to have come under sniper fire as first lady more than a decade earlier while paying a visit to Bosnia.

Instead, videotapes showed her receiving a gift of flowers from a young girl who greeted her plane.

___

Associated Press

[Turf Hitta]

LOL check out the repsonse from this whore...

[Old Man]

GOD DAMN COUNTRY IS GOING INTO THE SHITTER.  A MUSLIM SOCIALIST NEGRO RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.  WE GOT McCAIN.  HE LET THE GOOD DAMN GOOKS CAPTURE AND IMPRISON HIM FOR YEARS.  *Looks into sky* Ike Eisenhower where are you when we need you.

[Turf Hitta]

Oh, I get it. you're here to counteract Job. Sorry, buddy, but we already have Real American for that.

[Old Man]

Oh, I get it. you're here to counteract Job. Sorry, buddy, but we already have Real American for that.

Real American is a 27 year old virgin named faith.  My name is Bruce and I lost my virginity at 12 years old to two women at once.  I am a Korean War Vet RESPECT ME YOU SON OF A WHORE.  I SHOULD KILL YOU LIKE I DID THOSE GOOKS BACK IN KOREA.

[Narrator]

Oh, I get it. you're here to counteract Job. Sorry, buddy, but we already have Real American for that.

Real American is a 27 year old virgin named faith.  My name is Bruce and I lost my virginity at 12 years old to two women at once.  I am a Korean War Vet RESPECT ME YOU SON OF A WHORE.  I SHOULD KILL YOU LIKE I DID THOSE GOOKS BACK IN KOREA.

Hey, Bruce, are you having problems with memory loss and ED yet?

[Old Man]

Oh, I get it. you're here to counteract Job. Sorry, buddy, but we already have Real American for that.

Real American is a 27 year old virgin named faith.  My name is Bruce and I lost my virginity at 12 years old to two women at once.  I am a Korean War Vet RESPECT ME YOU SON OF A WHORE.  I SHOULD KILL YOU LIKE I DID THOSE GOOKS BACK IN KOREA.

Hey, Bruce, are you having problems with memory loss and ED yet?

Nope I just watch the cheerleads at the local junior high and everything works fine.  Working fine, something you welfare receiving spooks know nothing about.

[The King]

^ Is this guy for real. Anyone who votes McCain is an idiot, period. McCain is so out of touch with reality. He says the American economy has never been stronger. Alzheimer's anyone? McCain doesn't know what is going on. He's so old, he's lost his common sense. It's time to elect an educated person as President. And anyone who actually agrees with McCain's/Bush's policies are definably uneducated. Not to mention all the racists who think Obama actually is, or ever was, a Muslim. Even though someones religion shouldn't even influence the election.

Whether Clinton is the better candidate, or would make the better President is irrelevant now. It's Obama and McCain. Vote Obama, or it's another 4 years of Bush's policies and the war in Iraq. How long can the stupidity go on? It's pathetic Bush even got a second term. He lied to every American and the world about Iraq, and people voted for him again? How stupid can someone be? Let's vote for someone who lies to us, and sends us into war with a 3rd world country, for no reason. Not to mention the fact it's crippled the economy and brought the price of gas to record highs.

It's time to end the stupidity. Obama isn't perfect, but at least he mildly understands the need for a change in policy. He should pick Bill Richardson if he wants to avoid any of this "assassination" talk. Like Dave Chappelle said, the first black president needs to pick a Hispanic running mate. And the second anyone tries anything stupid, threaten to open those borders up. That'll shut up all those republican morons in the south.

[M Dogg™]

Finally... now hopefully Hillary goes away and Obama gets a good VP. She's ruining her chances at VP, and Obama will look at a Jim Webb or Bill Richardson, or my number one, John Edwards. We'll see. If you see John Edwards on a jetski in off Navy Pier, you know it's all good.

[Turf Hitta]

Oh, I get it. you're here to counteract Job. Sorry, buddy, but we already have Real American for that.

Real American is a 27 year old virgin named faith.  My name is Bruce and I lost my virginity at 12 years old to two women at once.  I am a Korean War Vet RESPECT ME YOU SON OF A WHORE.  I SHOULD KILL YOU LIKE I DID THOSE GOOKS BACK IN KOREA.

Oh I get it. You ARE Real American and you made this screen name to say things you normally wouldn't think about saying in front of people.

[TraceOneInfinite Flat Earther 96']

Well... I'm really happy for Barack and Michelle Obama. 

Libertarians believe that government is by nature, FORCE.  And that it must be limited at every turn (to the limits of the constition would be nice).

While liberals like obama believe that the government is an institution reponsible for serving it's people, etc.

But... Aside from these differences I really like Barack and Michelle Obama and I am very happy for them.

[Elano]

a change is gonna come ?
<a href="http://youtube.com/v/4SIaixH2ccU" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://youtube.com/v/4SIaixH2ccU</a>

[Turf Hitta]

BARAK OBAMA IS A LONG LEGGED MACK DADDY!

[M Dogg™]

His already started putting the party in line, he basically punked Sen. Lieberman

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/198727.php

Furthermore, during a Senate vote Wednesday, Obama dragged Lieberman by the hand to a far corner of the Senate chamber and engaged in what appeared to reporters in the gallery as an intense, three-minute conversation.
While it was unclear what the two were discussing, the body language suggested that Obama was trying to convince Lieberman of something and his stance appeared slightly intimidating.

Using forceful, but not angry, hand gestures, Obama literally backed up Lieberman against the wall, leaned in very close at times, and appeared to be trying to dominate the conversation, as the two talked over each other in a few instances.

Still, Obama and Lieberman seemed to be trying to keep the back-and-forth congenial as they both patted each other on the back during and after the exchange.

Afterwards, Obama smiled and pointed up at reporters peering over the edge of the press gallery for a better glimpse of their interaction.

Obama loyalists were quick to express their frustration with Lieberman's decision and warned that if he continues to take a lead role in attacking Obama it could complicate his professional relationship with the Caucus.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0608/Obama_on_Clinton_Well_be_talking.html

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), having secured the Democratic presidential nomination, returned to the Senate for a victory lap Wednesday, telling reporters he spoke briefly with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y) and that he was confident the party will be unified in the coming months.

Obama said he had no ill-will towards Clinton for not dropping out of the presidential race Tuesday night after Obama clinched the magic number of delegates, saying it was “understandable” for Clinton to use the speech to address her supporters.

Speaking to reporters outside the Capitol, Obama was asked if he was disappointed by the tone of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s non-concession speech Tuesday night.

“I just spoke to her today, and we are going to be having a conversation in the coming weeks,” Obama said. “I am very confident about how unified the Democratic Party is going to be to win in November.”

Asked whether Clinton had given him any indication that she’d be dropping out of the race, Obama said: “It wasn’t a detailed conversation.”

Clinton, who like Obama was in Washington Wednesday morning to speak at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, did not appear for a vote on a budget resolution.

Before stopping to talk to reporters, Obama strolled through a victory lap on the Senate floor, where he was treated to a hero's welcome from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

Looking to mend fences, Obama enthusiastically greeted many Clinton supporters, giving outspoken Clinton backer Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) a vigorous handshake and pausing in the hallway to give Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) a peck on the cheek.

Other Clinton supporters like Sens. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) got polite handshakes, while Obama saved a bear hug for 2004 Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), who endorsed Obama early on.

However, the presumptive Democratic nominee raised a few eyebrows when he took Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) aside to a quiet corner of the Senate for a private conversation.

A vocal supporter of Obama's opponent Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Lieberman has not been shy in criticizing Obama's foreign policy positions.

Earlier in the day, Lieberman participated in a conference call with reporters organized by House Minority Chief Deputy Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) in which Lieberman criticized Obama’s stance on the Middle East, a move that will surely further alienate Lieberman from the Democratic caucus he abandoned in 2006 to become an independent.

The two had what appeared to be an animated, if civil conversation that lasted at least three minutes. At one point Lieberman was literally backed against a wall, as Obama placed his hand on his shoulder and made several animated points.

However, when asked about the meeting after the fact, Obama cautioned reporters not too read too much into their private colloquy.

"I had just come back from the AIPAC, so we were just talking some politics," Obama said with a smile.

While Obama was busy working the Senate floor, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told reporters the race was effectively over.

“Now we have a nominee and that’s pretty exciting,” Pelosi said. The speaker, however, did not offer a formal endorsement and was quick to praise Clinton’s “eloquent knowledge… judgment…and stamina.”

But the day clearly belonged to Obama, who picked up another major endorsement from
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) soon after Obama left Capitol Hill.

"After a historic primary contest that made our party stronger than ever, the voters have spoken,” Emanuel said in a statement.

“I have known Barack Obama for years, first as a friend and later as a colleague. I know he will bring about real change and I am proud to endorse his campaign for president."

Even House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) threw his support behind Obama, although he chose his words very carefully and did not use the word endorse.

"I'm going to be supporting Mr. Obama," Hoyer said. "I expect Mrs. Clinton to say some things in the next couple of days, and I think that's appropriate for her to do…at which time I may make it more formal.”

As he prepared to get into his black SUV and head off onto the long campaign trail ahead, Obama took a moment to reflect on what it meant to become the first African-American presidential nominee of a major party.

"Obviously it is an enormous honor," he said. "It's very humbling. You think about all the people who have knocked down barriers for me to walk through this door. And the challenges they went through, which were so much more difficult and so much more severe. And the risks they took were so much greater."

"I will say, last night, standing in that auditorium, it struck me that this was a testimony to them."

[Turf Hitta]

KIMBO RIGGED THE PRIMARIES!!!